Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-08-19

own. 1t was 10 him simply an interesting
study of human nature to mark the differ
ence between this pretty girl and her sur
roundings. Indeed, how pery different she
was from the coarse clay of which the
people he had met hereabouts were COM
posed!
"She seems out of place here" solilo-
quized MIR. Braidwood, us he strobe along,
shifting off the inoffensive late golden-rod
with his stick. ut is as though delicate
pearl had been dropped down in a stone-
quarry. What would not education and
opportunity do for that rare flower"
He walked little farther, and then gave
utterance to the very sensible reflection:
"But, perhaps she would be no happier
for it."
For what followed this first interview,
Mr.. Braidwood is by no means to be held
blameless. That he was indiscreet cannot
be denied, and very thoughtless; but oil
this arose out Of his entire inexperience
with affairs of the heart. He sought the
company of this rustic maid because he
found i'll this way an agreeable pastime.
He saw her again Mt the spring; he stopped
| as he went by the house, seeing her in the
yard, ana talked with her; he met her as
| she was going to visit a neighbor, and en-
| joyed long ramble and talk with her,
while the neishbor went unvisited. In
after years, being more accustomed 10
self-examination, he has looked back upon
his conduct at this time, and wondered
how he could have been SO blind as not 10
see that he was endangering this un-
sophisticated girls peace of mind by at
tentions which were intended innocently
enough, but which had become to her
very serious matter.
For the face, the voice, the talk of this
man were something new to her. In the
few very cid romances that were among
the heirlooms of the family, she
had read of Just such beauti-
full, eloquent. wonderful men as he,
and lo!-here was q veritable hero of
old romance right before her. To be sure,
lie had told her that he was divinity
student in far-away university; but this
only added to his attractions. She thought
he must be just as good as he was hand
some and intellectual; and that whole
month was to her delicious dream.
But there came day when she was
rudely brought back to earth. Mr.. Braid
wood had determined that his vacation had
lasted long enough, and with sudden i'm
patience to return to his books,h resolved
to leave this vicinity on the next day. It
was at the spring where he first met her
that he announced his intention to Sarah.
She gave him startled look, and he saw
with q swift pang that her cheeks were
like ashes.
Goodbye, my dear little FRIEND" he
said, taking her hand. at has been very
pleasant for me to see you and talk with
you so often, because there are so very few
about here that I can talk with. Let us
hope we may meet again."
She spoke not; but there was something
in her eyes that reproached him. Obeying
an impulse most extraordinary for him, he
kissed her. Then he hurried away.
| She watched him until she could no
longer see him; and throwing herself down
by the spring, she cried bitterly.
1t was fully twenty-five years after that
parting that Mr.. Braidwood was called
upon TO attend dying woman at one of
the hospitals. The call was unusual;
he was engrossed in his proper clerical
labors; but he was told that she had named
him, and requested that he be sent for, and
he did not hesitate.
1t was worn, wasted face that looked up
to him from the pallet.
"You don't know me-" the voice wills
pered.
He admitted that he did not.
HDo you remember Sarah Bartlett?"
Poor woman!-even the name had been
forgotten.
But as she began to tell her story, mem
DRY carried him back to the spring thou
sand miles off, and he recognized the pretty
creature of that scene in the poor object
before him.
She told him briefly, for she had notlong
to live, her sad story of marriage with a
course lout, of the birth and death of
children, of their removal to this city, of
want, ill-treatment, and hunger, of her
| abandonment by her wretched husband.
and of her being brought here to die. She
told it all with pathos that moved the
kind minister to tears
"My poor woman" he said, swhat shall
1 do for you? Shall pray with your"
20 no, sir-I know shall be happier
where am going than I have been here.
There is one thing that you can do for me
in my last moments. You didn't mean to
do wrong when you met me so often away
of there at my old home; but you made me
love you in spite of myself, and all
the world was blank when you went
away; didn't care what became of me,
You broke my heart that time you kissed
me by the spring and left me forever.
Perhaps-now I'm leaving you and every.
body foreyer-perhaps you'll kiss me
again."
He could not refuse; he wished not to
refuse. Afterward, he knelt by that DEATH
bed. and prayed in voice choked with
emotion.
By himself was this story confded to me
year ago. I have altered the names in
the narrative; nothing else.